About this project

$5,477

pledged of $3,000 goal

68

backers

What if everything you knew about your life never really happened?

A film adaptation of the indie concept book You Are A Circle (a selection of the TED Conference bookstore 2013), The Circle Experiment takes you on a mysterious journey that questions reality and identity.

The story begins when a woman wakes up in the middle of the desert, wearing a strange astronaut outfit. In her mind, she thinks she's a simple housewife; but as she tries to find out what happened to her, she slowly realizes that everything she knew about her life is now gone.

Entirely shot in stunning grainy black and white photography, The Circle Experiment is a visual treat for the art house cinema lover. The film begins in a surreal desert and transports you to a even more surreal, dark Los Angeles—depicted like you've never seen it before.

Fans of the Criterion Collection and Chris Marker's La Jetée will be delighted, as The Circle Experiment is an homage to the 1962 classic and 60's-70's cinema.

So if you value beautiful black and white photography and stories that have deeper layers of meaning . . . this project is for you!

The Circle Experiment

We're thrilled to have Pei Liew onboard as the lead of The Circle Experiment. A multi-talented artist based in Los Angeles, California, Pei has an uncanny onscreen presence (as you can see in the trailer). She combines both extreme sensitivity and toughness into her impeccable performance skills—truly a rare gift.

Pei Liew, lead actress, The Circle Experiment

We really value culture and the art community. Nothing beats the feeling of a group of friends coming together around art. So everything we have built around The Circle Experiment is community-minded because, let's face it, we're a small niche of like-minded people and we might as well celebrate what we enjoy together.

So here's our idea. If you support us in this project, you'll partner with usin an adventure that's community-based. It starts at the first level of rewards where you'll be able to download a screening party kit—so you’ll have all the elements to invite your friends and throw a cool “opening night” screening event. And it continues at the higher levels of rewards where we'll show you what we did behind the scenes, or we'll invite you to our private screening party in Los Angeles.

Here's the new creative reality (and we think it's really exciting): by supporting this project, you're co-creating it with us—we're becoming a community. And if you're onboard, you're in it for a treat: check out all our rewards on the right column of this page.

The Circle Experiment is not just an art film, it's also a real-time experiment on a new way to create art together.

Your contribution will fund our production costs. Anything from helping us rent generators for the outdoor night shoots, renting lighting and camera equipment, paying the cast and crew, covering the travels costs for on location shoots, etc.

But there’s an even more meaningful aspect to your support. We hope that when we’ll share our progress with you, you will share it online with your friends as well (through Facebook or Twitter, for example). For us, the ideal vision is that through this project we will be able to build together a vibrant community of co-creators and co-ambassadors.

A side note: Our director, Guillaume Wolf (who’s a fiercely independent artist), wants you to know that we’re already very invested financially in the project (as the real projected costs are closer to $15,000, rather than the $3,000 we’re asking for here). We think it’s fair we're involved in the financing as well. By putting some of our savings on the line, we show that we’re 100% committed.

The financing breakdown is as follows:

• 30% by the director

• 30% (or more) by Kickstarter

• 40% through institutional or corporate sponsors

As you can see, this project is definitely not a charity. It’s an amazing (and ambitious) art project we’re creating together. And as you know, with Kickstarter, we’re hoping we can overfund our project . . .

But by how much? It’s really up to you. If you share our sense of aesthetics, and if you’re inspired by the trailer . . . please, be as generous as you want to be! Remember, we really have cool rewards. For example our posters (11x17” for the $65 reward level, and 24x36” at the $125 reward level) are really beautifully printed. We’re talking, gorgeous, deep matte black. Please read the description on the right and find the right level of support for you.

We have listed our rewards on the right side of the page, which depend on the level of your contribution. This is our way of showing you our appreciation.

Here are some visual highlights from our rewards list:

A signed copy of the book that inspired the film – The Book Lover Level (and above)

Medium (11x17") and Large (24x36") posters – The Collector Level and The Aesthete Level (and above)

We're obsessed with details, and we took great care in selecting the perfect outfits for the film. Discover in this candid featurette what it takes to fit an astronaut with . . . a real vintage high-altitude outfit from the 80's (hint: it's not easy). Enjoy!

Risks and challenges

This is a low-risk project.

The first part of the rewards will be shipped a month after the Kickstarter campaign ends.

As with every production, there can be delays in filming and editing. But with The Circle Experiment, because the production is photo-based and we're keeping it extremely lean (unlike traditional filming), we're confident that we will complete the project in due time (October 2013).

Support this project

Select this reward

Pledge $3 or more
About $3

This shows you care for art. To thank you, we will send you one THE CIRCLE EXPERIMENT collector postcard. Next, you’ll get private online access to download the movie. In addition, you’ll also get a downloadable screening party kit—so you’ll have all the elements to invite your friends and throw a cool “opening night” screening event.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $10 or more
About $10

The movie download, the screening party kit, plus you’ll get 3 different collector postcards (that you can frame like mini-art pieces). In addition, we’re giving you a slick sticker with the mysterious triangle motif featured in the movie—put it on your laptop, your car, or your helmet . . . and you will look sharp! At this level of reward, you will also be allowed to brag to your friends and say “I support an indie art film project,” and it will make you look good—because you are good.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $25 or more
About $25

THE BOOK LOVER LEVEL. You are now officially awesome. All of the above, and you’ll get a signed copy of the paperback You Are A Circle by Guillaume Wolf (that inspired the film, and is also a key element in the film)—a book so good, it was chosen by the official TED Conference bookstore part of their “best books of 2013” selection. We know that’s awesome—and you deserve it—because you’re awesome. (Physical rewards will ship a month after the kickstarter campaign will end — Movie and downloads will be ready in October 2013)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $65 or more
About $65

THE COLLECTOR LEVEL. Ha! You have crossed over to a different realm: You’re now part of the inner circle. You’ll get all of the above, plus a slick, signed 11 x 17 inches poster, superbly printed on heavy matte paper. Yes, superbly printed! But there’s more . . . You’ll also get an original prop from the movie: a unique “dimensional travel token.” It’s a translucent laser-cut triangle with the mysterious “N N N” logo engraved on it (2.5 inches—comes with a certificate of authenticity). The travel token comes with its own ‘dimensional burn marks’—and it’ll look great on your shelf. Let your inner collector be satisfied! Oh wait . . . there's more. At this level, we will also thank you in the movie end credits. Yes (picture this), your name in the movie! You deserve it: Thank you! (Physical rewards will ship a month after the kickstarter campaign will end — Movie and downloads will be ready in October 2013)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $85 or more
About $85

THE CREATIVE LEVEL. Now it really gets amazing. If you’re a creative, you don’t want to miss this. All of the above, plus a private online access to “The Circle Experiment Report,” a behind-the-scenes look at everything we did, from creation to promotion (from the camera, lenses, and software we used to the online strategies we implemented). You will learn tons of new tricks in this no holds barred online video report as you’ll discover the dos (and the don’ts) behind The Circle Experiment project. Get ready to be surprised. But there’s more . . . You will also be invited to a private screening in Los Angeles for our big Circle Experiment release party in Fall 2013 (note: travel and accommodation not included). Come celebrate with us! (Physical rewards will ship a month after the kickstarter campaign will end — Movie and downloads will be ready in October 2013)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $125 or more
About $125

THE AESTHETE LEVEL (only if you have a special appreciation of art and beauty). All of the above, plus a gorgeous, signed 24 x 36 inches poster superbly printed on heavy matte paper. Your house will look amazing, and your friends will be jolted by your awesomeness (yes, they will be jealous!). If you want to be involved and get an slick piece of art that you’ll keep forever—this is it. Thank you, you are a true supporter of the Arts. (Physical rewards will ship a month after the kickstarter campaign will end — Movie and downloads will be ready in October 2013)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $250 or more
About $250

THE E-PRODUCER LEVEL. All of the above, plus your name will appear in the movie credits as E-Producer. This is what Kickstarter is all about. Thanks for stepping up to the plate—you’re making a real difference. (Physical rewards will ship a month after the kickstarter campaign will end — Movie and downloads will be ready in October 2013)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $500 or more
About $500

THE ASSOCIATE PRODUCER LEVEL. Now this is serious (and limited). All of the above, plus . . . Your name will appear on the actual movie poster as ‘Associate Producer.’ But there’s more . . . are you ready? If you’re game, send us your portrait and you will appear as a character in the movie. You are now immortalized in the art project you helped create. How great is that? We can’t thank you enough, you’re a real backer. You are it! (Physical rewards will ship a month after the kickstarter campaign will end — Movie and downloads will be ready in October 2013)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,000 or more
About $1,000

THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER LEVEL. All of the above, plus your name appearing on the poster as ‘Executive Producer.’ Plus, a dashing handmade print circle (18 by 24 inches) signed by Guillaume Wolf. This level of engagement shows you care—and we thank you. (Physical rewards will ship a month after the kickstarter campaign will end — Movie and downloads will be ready in October 2013)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $2,500 or more
About $2,500

THE PATRON OF THE ARTS LEVEL. All of the above, plus a signed, limited edition large photograph (24 x 36 inches) of the opening scene, printed on fine art paper. You are a true patron of the Arts—we are very grateful you have the vision to support this project. (Physical rewards will ship a month after the kickstarter campaign will end — Movie and downloads will be ready in October 2013)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $5,000 or more
About $5,000

THE PHILANTHROPIST LEVEL. All of the above . . . and 4 signed, limited edition large photographs (24 x 36 inches) from the film, printed on fine art paper. You’re obviously either a philanthropist, a gallery owner, a corporate sponsor, or a mysterious angel. In any case, we thank you. Let’s talk and find out how you want to support this project. (Physical rewards will ship a month after the kickstarter campaign will end — Movie and downloads will be ready in October 2013)